Pneumatic tire



kNo Model.)

- 0. L, KOHNERT.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

Patented Jang 25, 1898.)n

difusa @-5 i,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

Orro L. IroIINEnT, or oHIoA'eo, ILLINoIs.

PNEU MATlC TIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 597,831, dated January 25, 1898. Application filed May 2, 1896. Serial No. 589,967- (Nc model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, OTTO L. KOHNERT, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Tires and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specilica- JOTL This invention relates to an improvement in pneumatic bicycle-tires, having reference more especially to means by which the escape of air from such tires by puncture may be prevented.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

A bicycle-tire constructed in accordance with my invention embraces as its principal feature a cellular layer or thickness of rubber surrounding the inner tubular part in which the air is confined, such cellular part being provided with a large number of cells which are separated by integral radially-arranged walls, each of which is closed or airtight, but which contains air under normal pressure, such cellular layer affording a thick covering surrounding the air-tube, which in case of injury to or puncture of the tire will protect the air-tube itself from injury, while at the same time giving to the tire as a whole the soft or yielding character necessary to a successful use of the tire.

The invention also includes other features p Of improvement in tires of the kind referred to, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in orosssection of the wheel rim and tire, illustrating one desirable form ofI my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views of the tire alone, illustrating modiiied constructions thereof embodying the general features of the invention. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel rim and tire, showing a form thereof somewhat different from that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 6 illustrates in cross-section the parts or layers of which the tire may be constructed or built up in the. manufacture of the same. Fig. 7 is a face view of one of the cellular layers shown in Fig. 6.

As illustrated in Fig. l, A indicates the wheel-rim, and B the tire. In this instance the said tire consists of two separate partsnamely, an outer cellular portion B' and an inner air-tube B2, these being separate from or unattached to each other. The external cellular part B in this instance is provided with two annularly-arranged series of cells b b', formed by means of an exterior wall B?, an inner wall B", and an intermediate wall or partition B5, together with transverse and longitudinally-arranged radial walls or partitions b2 b3, forming a large number of cells generally rectangular in form, the longitudinal walls of which are radially arranged with respect to the center of the tire as a whole, as clearly seen in Fig. l.

The cellular structure described may be made or built up of rubber, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein O C indicate two cellular layers in which the cells are open at one side, and C2 a flat layer, which may form the outer or inner-wall of the cellular part of the tire. The cells in each cellular layer may be arranged as shown in Fig. 7, the same being formed by partition-walls arranged at right angles with each other 3 but the cells may obviously be of other shape than square, with practically the same result in the operation of the tire. The cellular layers C C may be constructed in a familiar manner by the use of suitable molds, the partition-walls being made or molded integral with the body part of the layer. After the layers C C C2 have been made as described they are connected with each other in a manner familiar to manufacturers of rubber, thereby forming an integral cellular rnass wherein the several cells are air-tight and have no communication with each other.

The inner air-tube B2 (illustrated in Figs. l and 2) will usually be provided with a filling-tube D, having a valve d, as seen in Fig. 2, said lling-tube being secured to the wall of the tube B2 and passing outwardly through the external cellular layer B' of the tire. Such inner tube may be inclosed within the IOO non-cellular inner part. B9 adjacent tothe outer cellular layer. in the'process Aof Ymanu'- facture by building up the cellular layer around said inner tube, so as to permanently inclose the same, or the said inner tube may be inserted through a slit or opening formed in the outer cellular layer, as is common in that class of tires having a removable airtube.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a constructioniny which the inner air-tube as a separate part is absent and wherein the inner wall B4 of the external cellular layer or tubey is made of suitable thickness to form the innertube itself, air-pressure in this case being applied directly within the said inner wall B4.

In Fig. 4f is shown a construction in which? the tire consists` of three separate parts or layers-namely, an inner air-tube" B2 and twoy concentric integral cellular layers BG B7,

which latter are made separate from eachy other and placed one Within the other in the process of manufacture'. Inthis instance each' of the layers I3 B7 will' have both inner and outer walls7 with whichy the radialI walls or partitions forming the cells are permanently united in the manner illustrated.

Iny Fig'. 5 is shown a construction in whichV the cellular construction inf the outer layer or tube of the tire is limitedV to the bottom' and In thisl instancefBB indii- 1 sides of they tire. catesfthe external cellular layeigwhichiat its lower partsandlsid'es is provided? with'i outer' and innerwalls B3 B4, an intermediate partition Band radialwalls or partitions 192133 in` the same manner as before described inf con-l nectionwith Fig. l, but whichl has a' solidor wheel-rim A=, whichv solid part is'madeimuch thinner than. the cellular part. This construction has the advantage of affording. a larger air-tube than that showny in Fig. l, with substantially the same results so far as the' protection'` of the air-tube is concerned: I-` arrange the lradial Walls or partitions separating the severaly cells in such manner that those in the outer series'of cells Will'be out of line with those of the inner series of cells, this construction affording more uniform elasticity than would be the case if the severalv partition-Walls were arranged in radial alinement With each other. This particular arrangement ofy the partition-walls results inlal protected tire that is very sensitive or resilient for the reason that direct pressure on any one of the radial partitions is transmitted to the-center of an air-cell of the'next inner series of cells, and as said partitions of, one

series are staggered or out of line with those of the next series ai pulling or stretching strain exerted on a line of radial' partitions Will be communicated to the parallel lines of radial partitions of the next series only through the yielding medium of the wall or vpartition separating said two series of cells.

In all forms of the tire illustrated it is obvious that the external cellular layer may be torn or punctured in a manner to perforate one or many of the cells without liability of injury to the air-tube.

Inthis connection it will be observed' that the quantity of air held for imprisoned within the individual cells will 'be such as to prevent the complete collapse ,of the same under'pressure, so that a consid- Terable cushioning effect will be produced by the air Within the cells themselves, aswell :asby that withiny the air-tube of the tire.A

l A special advantage is gained by the particular constructionv described' and illustrated rherein, 'wherein thecellular structure is formed by means of annular'concentric walls iandi' radial partitions connected withy said l;walls, for the reason that the cellular strucfture of this kind may be easily and cheaply made, while at the same time the desired uni- `formity in cushioning eect is'secured.

I claim as my invention-y l. Awheel-tire comprising a tubular memy:ber adapted for containing air, and an armor 'ot cellular structureembodying inner, outer andlintermediate annular walls, andtwo sets of intersecting radial walls said annular and vradial'wallsforming two series of closed aircells superposed one'upon the other, the ra- `dial wallsof one series of cells being arranged intermediate theradialV walls of the other series, substantially as described'.

2. A Wheel-tire comprising an inner inflatfable tube, and an outer covering consisting of inner, out'er and intermediate circumferential' Walls, and two sets of radial intersecting partition-walls integrall with said circu niferential walls and witheach other, and forni- 

